Big Drum Thump

[Press Release]

Onstage and in the studio, the Yamaha Absolute series drum sets offer professional quality sound and exclusive new features. At Winter NAMM 2009, Yamaha will introduce a new Absolute series with several features and options.
Yamaha’s new YESS mounting system for the tom-toms, which debuted on the PHX series in 2008, now comes standard on the Absolute series and uses a chrome-plated steel mounting plate. Drummers can also choose the new hook lug as an option and can order a 20″-deep bass drum in the 22″-diameter size shell.

“The innovative new hook lug and redesigned YESS mount continue a long tradition at Yamaha Drums of taking key features and adapting them to other drum lines,” says Dave Jewell, marketing manager for Yamaha Drums. “Now, these improvements are available to a wider range of drummers.”

The YESS mount enhances sustain by shock-mounting the toms with dense rubber spacers between the shell and the mounting plate. The deeper bass drum provides a bigger sound by pushing more air without having to resort to a 24″-diameter drum. The hook lug makes changing heads much easier and increases the drum’s tuning range.
“The new hook lug takes the advantages of the Nouveau lug and makes it better, while the new design of the YESS mount increases the drums’ sustain and adds clarity to the tone,” says Jim Haler, product manager for Yamaha Drums.

The kits come in several exciting colors, including Burgundy (first pic below), Caramel Sparkle, Blue Ice Sparkle, Deep Blue, Luminous White Sparkle (which glows in the dark and you can check out in the second pic below), Solid Silver, and White Grape Sparkle.

The Absolute series of drums, available in birch or maple, is expected to ship in July 2009.

Small drum sets are still the new black, and Sonor knows it. The company is introducing two new 4-piece kits designed with modern rock drummers in mind.

The Force 2007 Rock kit features 9-ply birchwood shells that deliver distinctive highs, a full midrange, and a punchy bottom end. The Force 3007 Rock kit features 9-ply maple shells for a distinctively rich and warm sound.

The kits are configured as follows:

• 22″ x 20″ bass drum (virgin shell)
• 14″ x 6″ wood snare drum
• 16″ x 16″ floor tom
• 12″ x 8″ tom

The Force 2007 Rock kit comes with an HS 275 hardware pack—a hi-hat stand, two mini-boom cymbal stands, and a bass drum pedal. The Force 3007 Rock kit comes with an HS 475 hardware pack—a hi-hat stand, two mini-boom cymbal stands, and a bass drum pedal. Both sets also include Sonor’s vibration free Total Acoustic Resonance System (T.A.R.) mounting hardware for the tom.

But that ain’t all. Sonor is introducing two new finishes for the 2007 Rock configuration: Natural Fade and Dark Green Burst. Four new finishes for the 3007 Rock model are available as well: Smooth Brown Burst, Smooth Red Burst, Black/Red Sparkle (with black powdercoat hardware), and Orange Sparkle Fade (with black powdercoat hardware).

The wallet damage? Not too bad actually. The Force 2007 Rock set will set you back from $1,399.99 to $1,499.99 (MSRP). The Force 3007 weighs in with an MSRP of $1,799.99.

Along with an oompa-loompa-orange Lars Ulrich kit, Tama showed off a Simon Phillips 30th-anniversary drum set at NAMM 2009. Made of Monarch shells (a maple/bubinga/maple hybrid), the drums looked positively exquisite, and we got good Google AdSense money they sound damn fine too. Unfortunately, like all of the kits at Tama’s booth, the Simon Phillips set was off-limits to even the most well-connected thumpers. Next year, we’re bringing this along to distract the booth cops.

Check out more pics of the kit and other Tama drums from NAMM right here.

Remember like five years ago when Ludwig was boring? Venerable, sure—but still as boring as an insurance seminar or a lecture on Mesoamerican basket weaving. Well, shit has changed, thumpers. Celebrating its centennial as a manufacturer of drums, Ludwig came to NAMM with a truly stunning booth that included intriguing new gear and some modern versions of classic kits from the company’s long history. Check out the pics below of Jason Bonham’s anniversary kit (which pretty much borrows everything from papa Bonham’s amber Vistalites), a Neil Peart “Ro Sham Bo” replica, and a little something from a Liverpool lad who recently went nuts. More photos are available in our Ludwig gallery on Flickr. Just bring some wet-naps and a cigarette before you get to clicking.

The struggling economy has affected quite a few instrument manufacturers, but you wouldn’t know it from ddrum’s mightily awesome booth at NAMM 2009. Along with its usual bevy of cool bangables, the company proudly displayed Vinnie Paul’s new signature kit (complete with huge rack toms), new signature snare, and new signature pedals. Check ‘em out below. The rest of our ddrum gallery can be eye humped here.

Orange County Drum & Percussion busted out with a black-on-black-on-black Travis Barker kit at this year’s NAMM show. The set was also—and understandably—outfitted with Zildjian Pitch Black cymbals. Less understandably, a “do not play” sign, which you’ll see in the teaser pics below, defaced this beaut of a bangable.

Check out our full OCDP gallery on Flickr for more images from NAMM.